Bill Traylor (1854?-1949) is one of the best-known and most highly esteemed artists from the American south. A self-taught artist from Montgomery, Alabama, Traylor’s depictions of life in rural and urban Alabama have made him one of the most acclaimed artists of the twentieth century. Beginning when he was in his early eighties, in a prolific decade of art making, Traylor produced more than 1200 drawings in graphite, colored pencil, poster paints and crayon. Many of his works were created on shirt cardboard, cast-off signs and other shaped supports, whose unusual forms often influenced his designs. Traylor used these materials to create geometrically based representations of human and animal figures, often combining them in complex compositions that included abstracted buildings or “constructions.” The exhibition will feature over 60 rarely seen drawings from the two largest public collections of his work, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

Cygnet and Mingei Celebrate Black History Month

Cygnet Theatre and Mingei International Museum have partnered to help maximize audience for two important shows during Black History Month: the exhibition Bill Traylor, opening at Mingei February 9th, and the play Gem of the Ocean running at Cygnet from January 24 - February 24.

For Cygnet Members

Mingei will provide free museum admission to all Cygnet subscribers throughout the month of February. One per person.

For Mingei Members

Cygnet will provide 50% off single tickets to Gem of the Ocean, and 2-for-1 discounts on purchases of two or more tickets. For more information, please email membership@mingei.org. February 7 is "Mingei Members Night" at Cygnet. Members who hold tickets for that nights performance will be invited to arrive early for wine and light snacks in the lobby, and to hear a pre-show talk.